Many of us move to the Valley of Sun from other places and don't
understand how the desert climate changes the way we plant
vegetables and flowers. Plants that grew back home may not grow
here, so follows are some helpful tips to make gardening
easier.

Sunny area plant solutions

Not all plants that grow in the sun are cacti. There are many
varieties of shrubs and grasses that need full sun, which is their
preferred micro climate. The majority of full sun plants in Arizona
are drought tolerant, low water-use plants. These should be planted
with regard to the sun's position in winter or summer. These
include Lantana, Natal plum, Yellow bells, Oleander, Roses,
Rosemary, Fountain grasses, Desert Bird of Paradise, Justicias,
Cassias, African Boxwood, Agaves, Yucca, Sages and more. Most full
sun plants can tolerate some shade, but the bloomers will have
fewer blooms without the sun. Most trees must have sun. There are
also many annual flowers that prefer sun, such as Vinca, Wave
Petunia, Rudbeckia, Lisianthus, Angelonia, etc., for spring/summer.
Annuals that prefer sun in fall/winter include Petunias,
Snapdragons, Alyssum, Calendula, Geranium, Pansies, etc.

If a plant doesn't have enough sun, it will elongate and stretch
seeking the sun. It will have a weak cell structure and flop
over.

Shady area plant solutions

One problem that occurs frequently with small-lot homes is that we
have areas of deep shade, especially in the wintertime. Because the
sun is lower on the horizon, the north side of the house won't see
direct sun for months. When you design or renovate a landscape,
take this micro climate into consideration and select plants that
tolerate large amounts of shade. Great plant choices for shady
areas include Pittosporum varieties, Jasmine varieties, Ligustrum,
Tropical Bird of Paradise, Gardenia, Euryops, Aloes, some Ferns,
Euonymus, creeping Ficus, Day Lily, Turk's Cap, Japanese Boxwood
and more. All plants need a minimum of eight hours of sun or high
light. So the selection of upright mid-sized shrubs and ground
covers for shaded areas can add a lot of color in tough-to-plant
areas. Annuals that can do well in shade include Begonias, Coleus,
Caladium, Viola, etc., for fall/winter and Celosia, Impatiens,
Sweet Potato Vine, etc., for spring/summer. Don't put arid region
sun plants in shady areas. The arid region plants need full sun or
they will struggle and die.

Also be aware of water usage in shady areas. In the winter they
need less water because they have lower evaporation due the low
ultraviolet light. Change the water or you can kill the plants with
too much water. Temperature (heat units) has the largest effect on
the consumptive use of water.

You will notice that grass, primarily Bermuda grass, does not grow
well in shady areas. Rye grass does grow well in a shady area but
does not tolerate the intense ultraviolet light in the summertime.
Grasses like St. Augustine and some fescue varieties will tolerate
more shady conditions

Vegetable planting solutions

The micro climate for vegetable gardens is full sun year-round
under all situations. For example, corn has to have full sun or it
will elongate to the point it will look like a skinny reed grass
and never set tassel or develop corn to be pollinated.

In corn it even involves spacing. If it is too close together it
will not have enough ultraviolet light and heat units.

One of the biggest mistakes in the Valley is to put tomato plants
in full shade where they don't get enough sun to stimulate bloom
and grow property. If they have too much shade they will elongate
and go to vegetative growth.

It is the same with peppers, cucumbers, corn and okra. In the
intense heat of the summer you can shade tomato plants with a
partial shade cloth to protect from the strong afternoon west sun.
Our tomatoes are still blooming and healthy in the sun with some
afternoon shade from the blackberry bushes.

Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage (cold crops) can take more shade and
less light but they grow slower and you will have a longer time to
harvest. Timing is everything with vegetables because you have
short days in the winter and long days in the summer.

You have to have short daylight cycle onions for winter and you
can't use long day onions that are grown in the northern regions of
the U.S.

A quite common mistake is to plant tomatoes in the winter such as
Romas and they don't have enough light and heat units to provide
for proper growth of the tomato.

The same goes for summer. For instance, carrots can't take the heat
units in the summer.

You are wasting your time, money and energy if you don't use the
correct veggies in the correct location.

• Gary and Sharon Petterson own Gardener's World and Gardener's
Eden Landscaping in Phoenix. Reach them at (602) 437-0700. For the
nursery, call (602) 437-2233 or visit www.gardenpro.net, and for
landscaping, visit www.gardenersedenaz.com.